Denver Nuggets forward Kenneth Faried is like a lot of players participating in All-Star Weekend in Houston.

Faried, a second-year pro, will participate Friday in the Rising Stars Challenge as a prelude to a high-profile performance in the what typically is the highlight of All-Star Saturday Night: the slam-dunk competition.

His goal? "I'm just going to go out there and have fun and enjoy myself," Faried told The Denver Post.

But Faried is different from every other NBA player at this weekend's star-studded event.

He'll use his appearance to once again talk about topics near and dear to his heart: gay rights and the fight against homophobia.

You see, Faried, raised by two gay women when he was growing up in New Jersey, earlier this week became the first NBA player to join Athlete Ally, an organization devoted to fighting homophobia in sports.

So equal rights for the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender community hits close to home, literally, for Faried.

"I have two moms and I love them both very much," Faried said. "I respect, honor and support them in every way. The bond I have with them has made me realize that I want all members of the LGBT community—whether they are parents, players, coaches or fans—to feel welcome in the NBA and in all of our communities."

Faried recently appeared with his mothers in a public service announcement for the advocacy group OneColorado, to encourage Colorado to legalize same-sex civil unions.

"I got involved because of my (birth) mom," Faried told The Post. "She's a lesbian and married successfully in a civil union, and I wanted to support others who want to marry others and believe that they deserve that right."

And being in Houston for All-Star Weekend means Faried will be part of numerous media sessions, which can give him a forum to talk about the issues, much as the Baltimore Ravens' Brendon Ayanbadejo did at the Super Bowl and how Minnesota Vikings punter Chris Kluwe has.

Faried, 23, will act as a liaison between Athlete Ally and the NBA.

Kathy Behrens, the NBA's Executive VP, Social Responsibility & Player Programs, applauded Faried's move: "We are proud to work with Athlete Ally and thank Kenneth for his leadership on this issue. His support on this issue is a welcome step in the NBA's ongoing efforts to raise awareness about and end homophobia in sports."

The effort to promote acceptance and equality in sports got a boost last week when Los Angeles Lakers star Kobe Bryant, who will play Sunday in the NBA All-Star Game, chided two of his Twitter followers for using the same homophobic slur he himself had used in 2011 while complaining about an official's call during a game.

Bryant subsequently was fined $100,000 and in his tweets last Sunday pointed out that he had learned from his mistake.

"When you look at Kobe's tweets from Sunday it demonstrates the enormous progress we're making in changing the culture of sports," Brian Ellner, a member of the Athlete Ally board of directors, told The Huffington Post. "Coming off of Brendon Ayanbadejo's much publicized advocacy at the Super Bowl, you now have one of the most accomplished and famous athletes in the world tweeting about respecting gay people. We're at a tipping point."